When you visit Panama, there are few better ways to connect with the culture than through its food. A Panamanian cooking class isn’t just about recipes — it’s about learning the story behind the ingredients, the traditions, and the people.

But here’s something many travelers don’t realize:
Not all cooking classes in Panama are led by Panamanians.

In fact, many are run by European or foreign chefs who offer their own version of Panamanian cuisine — often missing the cultural heart of the experience.

Cook With the People Who Know It Best

At Panama Day Trips – Canal Eco Tours, we believe that the best way to learn Panamanian cuisine is from Panamanians themselves. Our cooking classes are taught by local Panamanian chefs or Indigenous Embera cooks, who bring authentic knowledge, personal stories, and generational wisdom to the table.

These aren’t just chefs — they’re cultural ambassadors.

What Makes Our Classes Different:

• Authentic Ingredients: Learn how to use local staples like culantro, plantains, yuca, achiote, and coconut the way Panamanians do.
• Traditional Techniques: Prepare dishes the way they’ve been cooked for generations — from grinding spices to wrapping food in banana leaves.
• Real Stories: Our chefs share not just cooking tips, but insights into Panamanian life, family traditions, and Indigenous practices.
• Cultural Immersion: Especially in our Embera-led classes, you’ll experience cooking as part of a larger cultural tradition — not just a list of instructions.

Why Foreign-Led Classes Often Miss the Mark

We respect all culinary educators — but when a visitor takes a class run by someone who isn’t rooted in Panamanian culture, something gets lost. The dishes may look similar, but they often lack the context, heart, and flavor that comes from a cook who grew up with these meals in their home.

It’s the difference between watching a recipe on TV… and learning it from your abuela.

Support Local. Taste Local.

By choosing a class led by Panamanians or Embera chefs, you’re also supporting local communities, preserving cultural knowledge, and getting the most authentic experience possible.

Join Us for a Truly Panamanian Culinary Adventure

Whether you’re sautéing sofrito, steaming tamales, or preparing a dish over an open fire in an Embera village, our cooking classes offer a real connection to Panama’s culinary soul.

Book your authentic cooking class today
Panama Day Trips – Canal Eco Tours | Taste the Real Panama.